By leveraging US Department of Energy funds and through a collaborative contract, the DEP has been able to support low-interest loan financing for energy efficiency retrofits and the installation of energy conservation measures and high-performance energy systems in buildings throughout Pennsylvania. This financial tool, the Green Energy Loan Fund (GELF), is managed on behalf of the Commonwealth by the Reinvestment Fund (RF). As a revolving loan fund, the program has lent over $17 million to projects across Pennsylvania. For a quick view of the projects, take a look at the GELF map. To read more about the projects funded to date, take a look at the story map – maybe your project can be added to this map!
There are four distinct categories of eligible energy conservation and efficiency improvements:
- Projects involving one or two energy retrofit measures or the replacement of single systems or equipment in an existing, occupied building.
- Projects involving multiple energy retrofit measures in an existing, occupied building.
- Projects involving the gut rehab of an existing building.
- Projects involving new construction of a building or an addition to a building.
All projects must result in a 25% reduction in energy consumption. The baseline for the energy savings calculation varies depending on the type of project, but the analysis required is described in the application materials.
GELF can also finance on-site renewable energy systems and on-site combined heat-and-power systems only when they are part of a larger building energy efficiency project.
GELF is unable to finance energy improvements to single-family homes.
For more information, or to submit an application head over to the GELF website.